In schools of Vladivostok at gastro lessons, children were revealed Asian “motifs” of popular dishes

Far Eastern cuisine is very multifaceted, it is a mix of tastes and traditions. And one of those faces is Asia. It reflects the history and culture of the peoples living in the region, geographical proximity to the Asia-Pacific countries, business ties, tourism, etc. It was with this side that students of Vladivostok schools were introduced during gastro lessons. 

The first half of April was held for children under the sign of acquaintance with the gastronomic features of the cuisines and dishes of the Asia-Pacific countries. At school No. 51, sixth-graders "twisted" rolls - these were baked rolls with mussels.

It's better than running a marathon. Children are superactive, interested, filled with enthusiasm and curiosity. Everyone wanted to ask a question, get a “personal consultation.” They were interested in everything: how to cook, how to serve, and what other dishes you can think of. That kind of audience keeps it going. And going to such a lesson, you need to be prepared for the fact that a demonstration of cooking and a story about the dish itself will not do. But this is for the best, - says Alexey Akhmedov, chef of the restaurant chain UMAMI RAMEN CLUB. 

Also rolls, but for the Korean taste, tried to prepare the fifth graders of school No51. It was kimbap – a popular dish of Korean cuisine, koga rolls wrapped in dried pressed sheets of “sea cabbage”. As a filling, in addition to rice, ham, omelet, fresh cucumber and carrots went to work. 

It wasn't just a gastronomy lesson. It was a real creative process. They were told and shown how kimbap was created. There was even a small lesson in Korean. It was said that the very name of the dish is a combination of two words: “sea cabbage” and “rice”. And then the guys got to work themselves. Moreover, they tried not just to lay the “stuffing”, but did it creatively, so that the pattern turned out in the section. I must give credit: despite the young age, all the guys coped with the task perfectly. It looks like they already have some experience. Adult help was minimal. Let’s hope that a decent shift is growing, said Galina Kim, one of the founders of the Kim Sisters cafe.

Another gastro-train with an Asian accent was held at school No. 28 by the team of the Chi-Fan Asian street food cafe chain. Eighth-graders under the leadership of brand-chef Evgeny Zhurba, having pre-prepared the filling, mastered the preparation of steam buns bao.

And for me and for the guys such a lesson is new. A bit of confusion didn't hurt the case. The guys were not only quick, but also curious. The questions were very different: about work, brand, employment, study, recipe, cooking at home. They asked openly, sincerely, and that is the most important thing. I think that master cash registers for children are now made on a permanent basis, added Evgeny Zhurba.

The teachers were also satisfied, stressing that such lessons are a kind of rest for students, allowing children, in addition to the usual lessons and classes that have become routine, to learn something new, plunge into a more liberated atmosphere. Of course, there is work in the schools, and the guys are preparing something there. But the combination of ordinary lessons and such master classes gives an excellent effect: the recipe is original, immediately there is an opportunity to share opinions, impressions, learn something about the culture of the country, the peculiarities of production, the profession of chef, etc. In general, teachers see a lot of positive things. In all schools, the children met such a departure from the templates for "hurrah."In addition to recipes of dishes, they remembered about traveling with their parents, about their "language practices" during such trips, shared plans for the future, actively recalled dishes that they tried in cafes and restaurants, whose chefs conducted gastronomy classes. The service theme is also integrated into the program. Teachers of the Department of Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Business of VVSU tell schoolchildren about the correct table setting. The chefs themselves admit that communication with such an emotional and open audience receive a huge boost of energy. This gives an understanding of the need to change with the change and maturation of the target audience. The children have the opportunity to plunge into the profession, get acquainted with gastronomy, culture, life of the country, learn some know-how in cooking, then flaunt this among their friends, having received their moment of fame More than 80 schoolchildren met with Asian shades during gastro classes. The organizers of the project: Tourist Information Center of Primorsky Krai (Visit Primorye), Agency for Tourism of Primorsky Krai, Department of Education of Vladivostok. The project continues its procession through the schools of the city this year. Gastronomy lessons in the schools of the Far Eastern capital are held within the framework of the Year of the Family, announced by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for 2024.  

Materials and photos prepared by the Tourist and Information Center of the Primorsky Territory (Visit Primorye). When copying materials, a reference to the source is required.